Carlo Ancelotti set to exclude Real Madrid megastar from Brazil squad – report | OneFootball

Throughout his time as the manager of Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti was the biggest backer and supporter of superstar forward Vinicius Jr.

The legendary tactician played an integral role in the attacker’s meteoric rise to the top and so naturally when Ancelotti took over the reins of the Brazilian national team this summer, it was expected that the 25-year-old will be a key cog in his plans.

Ancelotti to leave Vinicius for upcoming matches

However, GE Globo now reports that Ancelotti has decided to leave Vinicius out of the Brazil squad for their upcoming matches against Chile and Bolivia in September.

Indeed, the Selecao head coach is understood to have submitted the preliminary call-up list to clubs, as per FIFA protocol.

It has been decided that the Real Madrid superstar will be given a rest, while his teammates Rodrygo and Eder Militao are back in contention to be called up. The final squad will be announced on Monday, August 25.

No international action for Vinicius next month. (Photo by Wagner Meier/Getty Images)

Vinicius, who scored the decisive goal that sealed Brazil’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June’s 1-0 win over Paraguay, received his second yellow card of the campaign and will be suspended for the match against Chile at the Maracana.

Given the situation, the coaching staff have also chosen to rest him for the clash with Bolivia, to be played at El Alto’s punishing 4,100 metres of altitude.

Ancelotti believes that preserving the 25-year-old forward’s fitness for the rest of the season will be more beneficial for both Brazil and Real Madrid.

On the other hand, Rodrygo and Militao, who missed June’s call-ups due to different issues, are back in the pre-list and are expected to feature against Chile and Bolivia.

Militao, now fully recovered from his second ACL surgery, is a trusted figure for Ancelotti and is widely seen behind the scenes as a key pillar in Brazil’s defence heading into the World Cup.